Hi neighbors, 

It’s hard to believe that we are almost mid-way through the Fall Semester. It has been so exciting to see the campus come alive safely with students, faculty and staff and you, our neighbors.
 
Interim President Dave Proulx recently shared that he has been “encouraged by the numerous activities and programs—virtual and on campus—that support our shared commitment to community and increased dialogue.” Adding, “now more than ever, it is important to engage with one another, especially in person, if possible, after a year of remote interactions.”
 
That sense of optimism is certainly bolstered by declining COVID numbers both on campus and more broadly. However, we remain vigilant in keeping our community safe! And while over 97 percent of the RISD community (students, faculty and staff) have received a full dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, we continue to monitor the virus’ potential, follow clear health and safety guidelines on campus, and conduct surveillance testing of the community.  It is our hope that the spring semester may see us return to an even more active campus and able to welcome more visitors. Stay tuned for updates on this in coming emails. 
 
In the meantime, if you have a question or concern, please feel free to reach out. Also, I would welcome the opportunity to share these important updates with more neighbors and friends.  Please forward this email to anyone you think would be interested in receiving periodic updates or encourage them to join the email list.

COVID Updates 

Since August, 8,911 tests have been conducted with 32 positive cases identified.
 
Understanding that social gatherings over Halloween weekend may pose a heightened health risk to campus, RISD is encouraging community members to test at least five (5) days after attending a gathering with others whose vaccination status is unknown.
 
For the latest information from RISD on COVID-19 and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit our COVID-19 site.

Local Engagement 

RISD students, faculty and alumni have continued to invest their time and energy in supporting the local community. Here are a few examples:
 
The Regenerative Earth Collective
Students in a recently revamped gardening club, dubbed the RISD Regenerative Earth Collective (RREC), are using a small plot of land on Defoe Place, behind the Congdon Street Baptist Church, to build community and get hands-in-the-dirt experience in regenerative land use, using sustainably sourced materials and environmentally responsible creative practice. Read more 
 
Visualizing Hard Science
Students in a fall Digital + Media research studio are using high- and low-tech tools to explore the changing Narragansett Bay and develop creative research projects. Read more
 
Perspectives on Praxis
RISD students test ideas about art and pedagogy by working directly with local teenagers. Read more

Support the next generation of artists + designers

RISD/Limited Editions is an alumni-led print sale directly benefiting RISD students with all proceeds going directly to the Student Opportunity Fund, helping make the full RISD experience accessible and equitable to students of all income levels. The sale features “Mott Haven, March 2020”, 2021, an exclusive signed and numbered limited-edition print by RISD alumna and faculty member Cindy Ji Hye Kim 13 IL.  Read more

Voices from the Archives

Thanks to a $20,000 Libraries of Rhode Island (LORI) Grant, a team from RISD Archives, Special Collections, and Visual + Material Resources, led by Dean of Libraries Margot McIlwain Nishimura and Digital Archivist Douglas Doe, is working to preserve hundreds of historic lectures and interviews.  The hope is to eventually convert the tapes currently stored in the RISD Archives into digital files that will be available online to the public. Read more

Visit a Campus Gallery 

Some on-campus galleries are now open to the public, with masks required. Exhibitions throughout the academic year are generally on view for two to three weeks and are organized by curators from Campus Exhibitions working in conjunction with representatives from the Student Gallery Board. While many shows are departmentally-based, others are organized thematically or driven by questions and concerns of particular interest to students. Read more
 
Current exhibits include:
Faculty Exhibition and Forum
October 28–November 21
Chace Center galleries
20 N Main St, Providence, RI 
Fine art and design by more than 170 faculty members
 
Graphic Design Exhibition
October 29–November 14
Woods-Gerry Gallery
2 Prospect St, Providence, RI 02906
Work by current students
 
Defying the Shadow
through December 18
RISD Museum
20 N Main St, Providence, RI 
Images by and about Black artists
 
It Comes in Many Forms
through December 18, 2021
RISD Museum
20 N Main St, Providence, RI 
Islamic art from the collection